Illinois Legislature OKs ‘incomplete’ 2015 budget

Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, speaks to lawmakers Friday while on the House floor during session at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

Seth Perlman

Caption

Illinois Rep. Dan Brady, R-Normal (center) walks down the center aisle while on the House floor during session at the Illinois State Capitol Friday in Springfield.

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Legislature sent a new state budget to Gov. Pat Quinn Friday that majority Democrats acknowledge puts off tough decisions about whether to slash spending or find new sources of revenue – including possibly making Illinois' temporary tax increase permanent – until after the November election.

Senate Democrats approved the approximately $35.7 billion 2015 spending plan, which the House passed earlier in the week, with no GOP support. The vote comes as the Legislature faces a Saturday deadline to adjourn.

Democratic Sen. Dan Kotowski, a Senate budget negotiator, described the plan as "incomplete" but the best lawmakers could do this session. He said legislators will have to either find additional funds in the next year or cut at least $4.4 billion in expenses – an amount some lawmakers say could lead to thousands of layoffs, closing facilities and slashing programs.

"I'm not trying, nor is anybody trying to hide from the fact that we face challenges," Kotowski said. "We'll need to have options on the table ... to either fill this hole or wreak havoc."

Republicans called the plan irresponsible and warned the Legislature is headed toward a repeat of 2011. That's when Democrats returned to Springfield after the fall election and voted to increase Illinois' income tax by 67 percent with the help of so-called "lame duck" legislators who were finishing out their term after not being re-elected.

"We can see what's coming like having the other team's playbook," said Sen. Dale Righter of Mattoon. "We can see this team is in the same situation that they were four years ago and they are going to run the same play."

Quinn and other Democratic leaders wanted to extend Illinois' temporary income tax increase, which is set to roll back in January. But House Democrats – all of whom face re-election in November – couldn't get enough "yes" votes to do so this session.

Instead, legislative leaders drafted a budget that keeps funding levels flat next year for schools and most state agencies but doesn't account for increased costs.

It relies on many of the same practices that have been blamed for causing Illinois' bleak financial situation. They include relying on future increases in revenue that may or may not be realized, borrowing money from special funds to pay for day-to-day operations and delaying paying bills – adding to Illinois' roughly $4.7 billion backlog.

The temporary tax increase raised the rate for individuals from 3 percent to 5 percent. It is set to drop to 3.75 percent on Jan. 1 – a decrease Senate GOP leader Sen. Christine Radogno said would put about a week's salary back into the pocket of the typical Illinois family.

The Senate also is expected to consider a $1 billion capital construction program that would provide money for roads and bridges. The measure passed the House Thursday with bipartisan support from lawmakers who said the money was particularly needed because the exceptionally harsh winter damaged Illinois roads and bridges.

The capital projects will be paid for with money that's still coming in to cover a prior capital plan. Some of those bonds have been paid off.

The bills are HB6093-6097 (budget) and HB3794 (road construction).

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